vineri, 26 iunie 2015

Most of my blogs are focused on what I what I would like to
make for myself or on something a large number of our Facebook fans are asking
for.

Recently I discovered the amazing art of hairpin lace and I
crocheted a Stradivarius design, a crocheted poncho that put this particular
skill to work.

Our Facebook fan, Angel C. Ferrari brought to my attention a
particular dress design that proved to be a very famous and a very pinned
crochet garment.

My best guess is that this Sparkle & Swirl Tunic by
Urbanotfitters is this famous simply because its side swept finish is
extremely trendy this summer.

I am sure a lot of
you , crochet fans and addicts , noticed in the label stores a lot of crochet
items made with hairpin lace.

I will tell you why. The lacy , see through finish is a lot
easier to make using hairpin lace than it would be done using a regular crochet
hook and chain stitch.

Credits for the pictures from this post go to clubosinka.ru.

So without any further chit-chat here goes:

1.The tunic is made originally from cotton acrylic
mix, medium size yarn and 3,5 mm hook.

2.The Russian crochet artists made it ( as you
will see) from cotton, microfiber or viscose mix , with crochet hooks from 2
mmm to 2, 5mm

3.Depending on the your size the yarn quantity may
vary.

4.The dress is worked in one piece starting from
the side.

Work order:

The side circle

In the chart you will see that the long
lines are made with regular quadruple crochet on top of dc. Keep in mind the
chart is just to have an idea.

1.Ch 6, sl st to join

2.Ch1, 7 x sc in the circle, slt st,turn

3.Ch1,1sc in the same loop, 2dc in each loop, sl
st , turn

4.Ch4, 1dc ch1 in each loop, sl st,turn

5.Sl st to next ch space, ch3 1dc in the same ch
space, ch1, 2dc ch in each ch space, sl st turn

6.Ch3, 1dc in each loop, sl st turn

7.Ch4,sk1, 1dc ch 1 sk1…till the end of the row,
sl st, turn

8.Ch3 2dc in the same ch space,3dc in each ch
space till the end of the row, sl st turn

9.Ch 4 sk1, 1dc ch 1 sk1…till the end of the row,
sl st, turn

Main circle complete.

The hairpin lace free strips section.

As seen in the picture using a hairpin lace loom make the strips joining
in the bottom section to the last row. Count the strips as such: 3 strips for
each chain space + 1 strip for the loop on top of the dc.

Work the strips using this method
all around the circle.

The upper section of the loops is joined using a basic sc stitch as shown
below position 1.

The shell section ( above the hand written chart left side and a closeup look):

1.Work 1 sc in each loop ,sl st, turn

2.Ch5,sk1, 1dc ch2 sk1 till the end of the row, sl
st,turn

3.Ch1 2dc in the same ch space, 2dc in the next ch
space…alternate 3dc with 2dc in next ch space till the end of the row, sl st
turn

vineri, 12 iunie 2015

If you guys are huge
fans of Vanessa Montoro designs as I am, this is one blog post you will fall in
love with.

First and foremost here
is my very personal opinion about her crochet designs. I like them because they
are compact, feminine, sexy, figure flattering ( regardless the figure) and
most importantly timeless.

These being said I
thought since we are quite obsessed with these designs to explain and write a
pattern for the most versatile type of crochet square she uses in so many of
her designs.

As you will see , with
this square and the very popular shell stitch she managed to create spectacular
but simple designs.

3.Slst in the first ch
space,ch3 2dc ch1 (in the ch2 space), *3dc in the next ch space ch1* …repeat
till the end of the row,sl st , turn

4.Slst in the first
spokes, work 3dc ch3 3dc in the first ch space (increase) ch 5,1sc in the next
chspace, ch5,repeat the increase and ch5 sequence, sl st and turn ( you have 4
corners)

Keep in mind you always
slst in the first 3 spokes ans ch 3 up as the first dc from the first corner .
Work work 3dc ch3 3dc ( increase ) and continue with ch5 clusters ( basic mesh)
stitch increasing with 1 every row ( 1 more ch5 between the corners in every
row).

In total you will have
10 rows until the square is complete as shown in chart.

Keep in mind that
Vanessa Montoro uses this a bit differently :

1.ch6,

2.16dc,

3.Ch3,2dc,ch2,3dc,ch3sk1,1sc in the next st,ch3
and repeat the increase

Same principle as the
basic square . The resulted square will have 5 rows or increase and mesh
stitch.

Squares are linked in
the last row respectively in the corners.

Simple enough isn’t it.

Vanessa Montoro Crochet
Top with Square

As you can see the
simplest principle is applied here

You have to make 1
square and measure it. The front and the back are exactly the same.

You need 4 squares for
the front and 4 for the back.

The rest of the body is
made with the basic shell stitch

Make a total of 8 squares. Join them in 2
squares ( 1 for front , 1 for back) . Measure one big square and multiply by 2.

Measure around the breast line and subtract
the above measurement. You will get the length of the shell stitch section.
Divide by 2.

Starting from one side
of one of big squares work shell stitch rows linking to the other square. I think you got the idea.

When done work a few
rows circular on “top” of the squares and shape the straps working up.

Also for the bottom part work down using the same
shell stitch.

Vanessa Montoro crochet poncho with square.

Make as many squares as
you need according to your measurement. The neck opening in made working only 2 halves of squares in
the neck area for the front section ( the middle of the front). Join the two
sides and add fringes.

The Vanessa Montoro crochet
pants with square

You might think the pants are trickier and you
would be wrong.

Crochet 1 square to have as measurement. Depending
on the yarn used and our size you will need 4 or 5 squares around your hips.

The upper section is
worked like with any other pants . See the previous blog on the topic.

Chain accordingly and
work rows of shell stitches until the length reaches the space between your legs. Chain and work in round each leg until you have
shorts.

Start working the
squares and add them gradually.

The bottom border is
also made with shell stitch.

This is it, girl. It is
really a lot simple than it looks and I am sure you can make any of these if
you put your skills at work.

I hope you guys enjoy this post. Please share it all over the world and have fun making these.

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